Chapter 3: Maid Outfit and Punishment
“Good morning! Did you sleep well last night?”
“Uh, yeah…”
The next morning, when we met up in the inn’s dining hall, Alicia looked as though she had slept like a baby. Isn’t it typical for a princess embarking on a journey like this to complain, “There’s no way I could sleep in a cheap inn like this!” or something along those lines?
That said, her good rest was probably thanks to what we did before bed. So, I quickly changed the subject.
“So, about the town of Arshe we’re heading to—it’s supposed to be bigger than this place.”
“Yes, it’s governed by Viscount Baltar, and his estate should be there, but…” Alicia trailed off, hesitating.
Normally, a town with a lord’s estate would be well-governed and safe, but…
“I haven’t heard good rumors about either the viscount or the town. Plus, being in the frontier and far from other noble territories, it’s likely why it was targeted by the cult. It’s unforgivable.”
“Yeah. But if it really is a cult, how do we even start investigating?”
“That’s tricky. For now, perhaps we should visit the church in Arshe and find someone who knows the situation?”
“Sounds reasonable.”
If Arshe is indeed the enemy’s stronghold, we’ll likely get more information by asking around there. We decided to figure out the rest later and finished our meal.
Then we headed to the carriage station on the outskirts of town. Calling it a “station” is generous—it was just a single lamppost with a timetable (if you can even call a schedule for one carriage a day a timetable) pinned to it. As we approached, we saw a curt notice: “Service suspended until further notice.” Alicia let out a surprised gasp.
“Eh, no carriage today?!”
“Looks like it. And it doesn’t even say when it’ll resume.”
There was no explanation for why the carriage was canceled or where to inquire.
“What now? If we walk, we might reach Arshe by evening.”
“If that’s the case, no choice but to go on foot, right?”
An experienced traveler might arrive faster, but I’m an alchemist, and Alicia has probably never walked far outside the palace. I wasn’t even sure we’d make it by evening with our pace.
This is gonna be tough, I thought, though a small part of me was looking forward to it.
Alicia, who had been lively despite the unfamiliar journey, would surely be exhausted after a long walk. Even if she enjoyed being whipped or spanked, pure physical fatigue would get to her, right?
As for me, I may have been holed up lately, but back in the day, I fought monsters in the wilds to gather materials. My stamina should be better than hers, at least.
After being dragged around by her whims, I was curious to see her whining from exhaustion.
With such thoughts, we set off on a road stretching through a barren wasteland. In the distance, mountains and forests loomed, and occasionally, we spotted animals, but none came close. The path was cleared of stones, with wagon ruts marking the way, so we wouldn’t lose our bearings.
At first, Alicia was amazed by the scenery, so different from the palace. But as the unchanging landscape dragged on, she began to show signs of fatigue.
“Phew… Walking this far is quite tiring, isn’t it?”
“Wanna take a break? It’s about lunchtime.”
I was tired too but played it cool as I asked.
Alicia was breathing heavily, her pace slowing bit by bit. She clearly needed a rest. Just as I thought that—
“No, I’m fine… Refresh!”
As Alicia cast the spell, her complexion visibly improved.
Healing fatigue is a fairly advanced spell (harder than healing wounds), yet she used it effortlessly. She’s absurdly talented, as always.
“Should I cast it on you too, Magnus-san?”
“Nah, I’m good.”
I let my pride get in the way, but my steps were growing heavier. Having said I was fine, I couldn’t backtrack and ask for the spell. Damn it, how do I make this smug princess, who always keeps her cool, squirm?
Before I knew it, for the latter half of the journey to Arshe, my mind was consumed with such thoughts.
“Hey, hold up.”
“Huh?”
After walking for who knows how long, I suddenly felt something off and stopped.
Until now, the landscape had been nothing but vast wasteland, but several figures approached from ahead. Hardly anyone would travel this frontier on foot—today was the first time we’d encountered others since leaving Trill.
“Be careful.”
“Y-Yes.”
As they drew closer, I could make out their appearance.
They wore tattered clothes with leather armor, their eyes sharp and menacing. Each held a weapon—swords or axes. They looked like bandits. Could they be why the carriage was canceled? Instinctively, I stepped in front of Alicia to shield her.
The group fanned out to surround us, sneering.
“Hyaha! You two look like you’ve got some coin for wandering out here!”
“Don’t bother running—you’re already surrounded!”
Five of them. Their movements were practiced, clearly experienced in ganging up on travelers. Their numbers gave them an advantage, and turning my back would leave me vulnerable to their throwing weapons or the bow one of them held. They wielded practical weapons—daggers, hand axes, knives, a chain sickle—but one had a drawn bow. Individually, they weren’t much, but their formation made them troublesome.
“Looks like they’re scared stiff seeing how tough we are!”
“Drop your weapons and surrender, and we might let you live!”
“Guhehe, especially that girl—she’s a fine catch!”
One licked his lips, eyeing Alicia. They hadn’t pegged her as a princess, but her beauty was impossible to hide.
“Boss, can we have some fun with them once we nab ’em?”
“Yeah, we haven’t had much reward lately. Do what you want.”
“Hell yeah, that’s our boss!”
“Hyaaa! Now I’m pumped!”
“~~~!?”
Alicia flinched behind me at their vulgar words.
Even with all her quirks, was she scared when faced with clear hostility?
“It’s fine. These guys aren’t much one-on-one. Stay calm, and we won’t lose.”
“No, it’s not that…”
When I tried to reassure her, Alicia hesitated, her words faltering.
“What’s wrong?”
“I… imagined what would happen if we lost…”
“What?”
I was dumbfounded.
“You don’t mean…”
I knew she was a pervert, but to think about that at a time like this? Would she really be okay with these guys? Or does she get off more because they’re like this?
Damn it, I was an idiot for worrying even for a second.
Anger surged within me.
“Hey, you lowlife bandits!”
“Eek! What’s with this guy’s vibe all of a sudden?!”
“What’s his deal? Usually, even tough guys get intimidated when we surround ’em!”
The bandits seemed rattled, probably because their usual tactic of overwhelming with numbers made opponents give up without a fight.
I raised the cloth whip ‘Blessed’ yesterday, and the leader shouted.
“Hey, don’t get spooked! Look at his weapon—it’s just a whip!”
“Yeah, he thinks he can fight with that?”
“Tch, got worked up for nothing.”
They clearly hadn’t seen a ‘Blessed’ weapon before, openly mocking the whip. From a distance, it just looked like an oddly colored whip, so I couldn’t blame them.
“Damn it, every single one of you mocking me!”
“Get him! Once the guy’s down, the girl’s all ours!”
“Raaah!!”
At the leader’s command, the bandits charged, coordinating to restrict my movements. I couldn’t lose to these textbook lowlifes.
That’s when it happened.
Flash!!
The whip in my hand suddenly glowed. I hadn’t used any magic, yet light seemed to pour from within.
“What the hell is that!?”
The bandits froze.
I was shocked too but quickly recalled—this was the ‘Holy Power’ Alicia imbued yesterday.
As I stood confused, the glowing whip moved on its own, lashing toward the nearest bandit holding a dagger.
“Tch, it’s glowing, but it’s just a whip! It won’t even sting!”
I swung the whip in a fluid motion, as if I were a seasoned whip user despite never wielding one in combat.
CRACK!!
“Guh!? Owww!!”
The bandit let out a wail, dropped his weapon, and collapsed.
Then—
“Eek, I’m sorry, I’m sorry, I’m sorry!!”
He groveled desperately, as if begging for his life.
What the hell…?
I was creeped out by my own attack.
Is this the ‘Holy Power’’s effect?
Neutralizing without killing is great, but this effect is way too weird.
“What did you do to our buddy!?”
The next bandit swung an axe at me.
Right, that guy must’ve been a fluke. It won’t happen again.
Steeling myself, I swung the whip, guided by the ‘Holy Power’.
“My axe won’t lose to some whip!!”
CLANG!!
The axe was knocked to the ground.
Then—
CRACK!!
“Guh!? Aaaagh!!”
The bandit let out an even louder scream than the first, collapsing and sobbing.
“No more… no more whips…”
What is this whip?
“No idea what trick you’re pulling, but you’re done!”
Whoosh!
An arrow flew with a sharp sound.
Caught off guard, I braced—
“Earth Shield!”
Alicia’s clear voice rang out, and a magical shield of earth formed beside me.
I’d forgotten, caught up in this ridiculous whip, that Alicia was a magical prodigy.
The arrow clinked against the shield and fell.
“Your turn next!”
“Gyaaah!?”
What followed was overwhelming.
The holy whip took down the bandits one by one, and when one attacked from behind, Alicia’s magic shielded me.
In no time, all five lost their will to fight.
“Eek… we won’t do it again, please…”
Ignoring their tearful apologies, I looked at Alicia. She seemed unharmed.
“Phew… You okay?”
“Yes. It was a bit dangerous, though.”
“Huh?”
Even with her immense magic, this was likely her first real combat. Was she struggling to use her spells?
“No, I got caught up imagining what would happen if we lost… But seeing your incredible whip skills, I decided I’d rather be manhandled by you, Magnus-san, and snapped out of it!”
“…”
Don’t report that with such pride.
“More importantly, something’s off with these guys. What’s with this whip?”
“Hmm, I’m not entirely sure. One possibility is that, beyond its power, the weapon gained an additional effect suited to its nature, instilling fear in opponents.”
So because it’s a ‘Blessed’ whip, it induces fear? That makes sense.
“Another possibility is that the ‘Blessing’’s effect varies based on the situation it was applied in.”
“Please let it be the first one!”
“To think a single strike could reduce them to this… What must it feel like? I’m so curious!”
Alicia’s words, grinning as she imagined being whipped, reignited my anger.
But taking it out on her would only make her happy.
“Damn it, I’m turning you all over to the guards!”
I vented my frustration on the bandits instead.
＊＊＊
“Phew, I’m exhausted…”
By the time we reached Arshe, handed over the bandits, and finished everything, I was drained, and the sun was setting.
Dragging five bandits to Arshe was no small feat. We had to make sure they didn’t escape, but thanks to Alicia’s wind magic, we only had to watch them while keeping them conscious. Without that, who knows how it would’ve turned out.
“Well done. Shall we rest today and start the investigation tomorrow?”
“Yeah, let’s find an inn for now.”
After handing the bandits over to the guards and lightening our load, I took another look around Arshe.
Arshe was larger than Trill, but it felt more rundown. The town lacked vitality, with shifty-eyed men loitering in the streets. Dilapidated houses and shops stood neglected, many with broken windows.
“The bandits showed up closer to Arshe, so the security here seems pretty bad.”
Trill felt merely desolate, but this place was outright chaotic.
“You’re right. I’d heard bad rumors, but even the soldiers seemed completely unmotivated.”
Normally, capturing bandits and turning them in would earn gratitude or even a reward.
But despite our effort in apprehending five bandits, the soldiers’ response was lukewarm. They acted like they couldn’t care less about the town’s safety, even though it was their job.
“That kind of apathy might be emboldening lawbreakers,” Alicia remarked.
“That makes sense.”
If that’s the case, it’s no wonder a cult could thrive here. In a town like this, desperate residents seeking solace in prayer might easily fall for false teachings.
“I need to be careful as someone in a position of authority,” Alicia added.
“Then maybe start by curbing your perverse hobbies?”
“That’s where you come in, Magnus-san, to educate me so I don’t stray from the path,” she said with an expectant look.
As expected, she’s shameless to her core.
“Whatever. I’m exhausted today, so I’m going to bed.”
“Well, that’s fair enough.”
And so, we headed to a mediocre inn in town and stayed the night.
The next day, we made our way to Arshe’s church. Given the town’s poor security, I expected the church to be in shambles, but surprisingly, the building was spotless, and the garden was well-maintained.
Puzzled, Alicia and I entered, finding a few residents attending worship. At the front, a sister in her thirties watched over them with a benevolent smile.
After offering a brief prayer alongside Alicia, I approached the sister.
“Excuse me.”
“Yes? I don’t recognize you—are you travelers?”
“Yeah, we’re adventurers. We heard the church in this town’s been having some trouble, so we came to see if there was any work.”
If they thought we were prying into church affairs, they’d get suspicious. So I posed as an adventurer looking for a job, but the sister smiled warmly and said, “I’m sorry to disappoint you, but our church is doing quite well at the moment.”
“Huh?”
That didn’t match what we’d heard, and I was a bit thrown off. The sister’s smile seemed genuine, not like she was lying or hiding something. Of course, I’m no expert, and someone as brazen as Alicia could probably lie without being caught…
What now? Should I press further?
As I hesitated, Alicia spoke up.
“But I’ve heard that corrupt practices are rampant among the church’s higher-ups…”
She likely avoided mentioning the cult to prevent raising suspicion, instead bringing up corruption.
The sister nodded as if she understood.
“Indeed, such things have happened. Indulgences, for instance—disgraceful corruption unbecoming of clergy. But ever since our priest awakened to the True Teachings, all of that has stopped.”
“What?”
The conversation suddenly took a suspicious turn.
We’d suspected a cult was active in this town, but could the entire church have been overtaken?
As we spoke, a man entered the church.
The sister gestured toward him. “Why don’t you stay and see?”
“See?”
“Yes, this is the True Teachings of our Holy Mother Church.”
I didn’t quite follow, but there was no reason to refuse an invitation to observe. I exchanged a glance with Alicia and nodded.
The man who entered was around thirty, dressed like an average commoner—neither rich nor poor. He looked tired from work, perhaps seeking peace on a rare day off by visiting the church. The sister greeted him with a radiant smile, arms outstretched.
“Welcome back, Kelly.”
At those words, the man’s weary adult face lit up like a child’s.
“I’m home, Mama!”
He shouted and dove into the sister’s chest.
“Eh?” “Huh?”
Alicia and I gasped in unison. I thought I’d misseen, but even after rubbing my eyes, the man was nuzzling into the sister’s chest like a child. If he were actually her son, it might make sense, but she didn’t look old enough, and their hair and eye colors were completely different.
“Mama, work was so tough yesterday! My boss yelled at me for no reason! I didn’t do anything wrong!”
His behavior and words were bizarre, and his voice was high-pitched, like a child’s. Everything about him, except his appearance, seemed to regress to infancy.
To put it mildly, it was creepy.
“Oh, Kelly, you work so hard every day, and your boss is so unfair. There, there~”
The sister gently stroked his head like a loving mother.
“…”
Alicia and I exchanged another glance.
Despite this horrifying scene, the other worshippers watched with warm smiles.
Apparently, this was a normal occurrence for the Holy Mother Church.
This reminded me of what Ellie had said about Miller.
Could Miller’s unsettling behavior be typical among men influenced by the Holy Mother Church? Well, even so, this man wasn’t asking to suckle like Miller had…
“Thanks, Mama! I feel so much better now!”
“Good. If anything bad happens, you can always tell Mama, okay?”
“Yay!”
Fully rejuvenated, the man skipped out of the church.
The sister waved him off with a smile before turning to us.
“…And that’s why our church is doing so well.”
“Y-Yes.”
Calling this “doing well” felt utterly wrong, but causing a scene might hinder our investigation, so I nodded reluctantly.
“How about you? Don’t you carry the weight of the world’s frustrations, anger, or dissatisfaction?”
“Well, yeah, I suppose…”
“Then why not cast aside your pride, appearances, and societal expectations and let me comfort you?”
As she spread her arms, an oddly maternal aura emanated from her.
Right, I was betrayed by my disciple, slandered with false rumors, and now I’m stuck investigating a mess with a perverted princess. No one believes I’m innocent, but maybe this sister would…
“Magnus-san?”
“Huh!?”
Alicia’s voice snapped me out of it. Damn, I nearly fell for it.
“Sorry, I appreciate it, but I’m fine.”
“I see. And you, miss? Would you like to join us in comforting the weary?”
“No, I’m good,” Alicia replied firmly, though with a smile.
Yeah, this church’s vibe is the opposite of what Alicia’s into.
If a cult like the Masochist Punishment Church ever popped up… No, let’s not think about that horror.
“Ahem, by the way, we heard a priest named Miller from Trill went missing. Could he be…?”
“Yes, Miller-san found true faith here in this town.”
That guy from earlier seemed to regress out of pure (if weird) emotion, but Miller’s behavior sounded driven by ulterior motives…
“Why is he missing, then?”
“I’ve heard Trill’s priest is particularly close to the corrupt church leadership. If they learned of Miller-san’s whereabouts, who knows what retaliation they might take?”
Trill’s priest did seem focused on covering up issues.
“Could we at least meet him to confirm he’s safe?”
“I’ll pass the message along,” she said, though her tone suggested no intention of arranging a meeting.
Pushing further felt difficult.
Then Alicia spoke again.
“Still, I don’t recall the term Holy Mother in Artemisia’s teachings, nor practices like this in the scriptures. How did such a remarkable method of salvation begin?”
She feigned admiration while probing about the regression ritual. Her conversational finesse was impressive, as always. The sister eagerly responded.
“In truth, we all had doubts about the church’s state. Even our priest was once involved in such corrupt practices, and we sisters felt deeply troubled. But then, someone appeared to deliver the true words of God!”
“The true words of God?”
“Exactly. The church in this kingdom, taking advantage of Artemisia’s absence, twists Her words for profit. But God—no, the Holy Mother—sent a prophet to lament this state!”
“A prophet!? Who…?”
A prophet encouraging that behavior can’t be anything but trouble, but I held back negative remarks to keep her talking.
“Yes, Lestia-sama. She proclaimed the Holy Mother’s true words, teaching us that we don’t need the corrupt church hierarchy between us and the Holy Mother! Even our priest, who once distorted the teachings, repented!”
Alicia and I exchanged another glance.
From her story, this Lestia seemed to be the root of the disturbance.
“Where is Lestia-sama now? I’d love to hear from her directly,” I asked, pretending to buy her story.
The sister’s expression turned slightly sad.
“Well… The church, unhappy with Lestia-sama’s prophecies, is trying to capture her, so she’s gone into hiding. Because of that, even we can’t see her anymore.”
“I see. Have you met her?”
“Yes, I attended the Holy Mother’s Embrace Ceremony once. Her love reached even me as a bystander,” she said, her face dreamy.
Another unfamiliar term.
“Holy Mother’s Embrace Ceremony?”
“Yes. For the deeply faithful, the Holy Mother embraces them through Lestia-sama.”
“Specifically, how?”
“An embrace is an embrace,” she said, eyes narrowing dreamily.
It didn’t feel like she was dodging but rather couldn’t find better words.
“Witnessing it, I resolved to share the Holy Mother’s compassion with those who are lost.”
The mysterious Holy Mother’s Embrace Ceremony, a priest’s sudden repentance from corruption—the mysteries only deepened.
“Could I participate in it?”
She looked apologetic.
“I’m sorry… We’d love for more people to join the Embrace Ceremony, but… The church and the lord are against us.”
“Viscount Baltar, right? We’re new here, but from the town’s state, he doesn’t seem like a great person,” Alicia said, playing along.
The sister nodded vigorously. “Exactly. Viscount Baltar refuses to heed God’s true words and even imprisoned Misha-san, a believer since the Holy Mother Church’s founding! Then he expelled everyone who follows our faith from his estate. Since then, we’ve kept this secret from him and his agents.”
If the entire church had converted, you’d think it’d leak, but maybe the townsfolk, even the viscount’s men, sympathize with the Holy Mother Church and stay silent.
“Thank you for sharing,” Alicia said, bowing politely.
I felt we didn’t have enough leads, but Alicia seemed confident, so I followed her lead and left.
Once we reached a secluded spot outside the church, Alicia spoke.
“It’s a bigger deal than I expected, but thankfully, the lord hasn’t been swayed yet.”
“Still, if the lord was competent, this wouldn’t have happened.”
A cult spreading bizarre rituals and a lord who let corruption fester—both seem equally bad to an outsider.
“No, at this point, it doesn’t matter if he’s competent. We just need his cooperation to investigate the Holy Mother Church.”
“But how do we even meet him? I doubt a lord would see adventurers like us just because we asked.”
Alicia thumped her chest confidently. “Don’t worry—I’m confident in my connections!”
“Oh, right, you would be.”
Looking at Alicia’s confident expression, I was reminded that she’s a princess. She’s adapted so well to this frontier journey and forced me into those perverse nighttime antics that I’d completely forgotten her royal status.
“What’s with that disdainful look?” she asked.
“Nothing.”
“You’re welcome to look at me like that more often, you know?” Alicia said, flashing a seductive smile as she gazed up at me.
This girl, honestly…
“No, let’s focus on Viscount Baltar!” I quickly steered the conversation back, sensing Alicia’s mischievous switch about to flip. She’s relentless.
“Right. There are several ways to approach this, but revealing I’m the princess would complicate things, so let’s forge a royal decree.”
With a serious expression, Alicia pulled out a sheet of paper.
Is she bipolar or something? I wondered, impressed, as she swiftly penned:
> Magnus and Alicia, his servant, are investigating and resolving the Holy Mother Church issue in the frontier by order of the royal family. Therefore, local lords are to cooperate to the fullest extent possible.
> Princess Alice Hortensia von Rosenberg of the Holy Kingdom of Rosenberg
She stamped it with her seal, transforming the paper into an official Royal Decree. I wish she’d stop casually calling me her “master,” but pointing it out would only drag this on.
“Shall we go meet the viscount?”
“Y-Yeah.”
And so, we headed to the mansion at the town’s center.
Amid the town’s decay, I’d noted the church’s surroundings were pristine, but the viscount’s estate was just as immaculate. Whether funded by taxes squeezed from the people or ill-gotten gains, the garden boasted elegant statues and vibrant flowers from across the kingdom. The mansion’s walls were coated in stylish white plaster, nearly spotless.
We approached the grand gate, where a soldier in expensive armor stood. Enduring his scornful glare, I spoke humbly.
“Excuse me, we’re adventurers hoping to meet His Excellency Viscount Baltar.”
“Hah? Adventurers think they can just waltz in to see His Excellency?” he sneered.
As expected. I pulled out Alicia’s document. “I see. The thing is, we’re investigating under Princess Alice’s orders and need His Excellency’s cooperation…”
“P-Princess!?” The soldier’s face paled instantly.
It was mildly satisfying, though the thought of the princess’s true nature soured the moment.
“Understood. I’ll inform His Excellency at once.”
“Thanks.”
The soldier scurried off, pale, only to return with a plastered-on smile. “My apologies for the wait, sirs. His Excellency will see you shortly. Please wait in the parlor.”
“Uh, sure.”
Bewildered by his sudden change, we were ushered inside.
The corridors were lined with plush carpets, and glimpses of rooms revealed luxurious wallpaper and furniture. The opulence felt out of place in this rundown frontier town, leaving me uneasy as we were led to the parlor.
“Welcome, esteemed guests,” said a woman in an elegant maid outfit, bringing tea and sweets. I was thrown by the abrupt hospitality, but Alicia, accustomed to such treatment as a princess, sipped her tea gracefully without hesitation.
Meanwhile, I was too tense—having to hide Alicia’s identity while probing about the Holy Mother Church—to taste the tea or sweets.
As we waited in awkward discomfort, a man entered.
“My apologies for keeping you waiting.”
Dressed in an expensive formal suit with a well-groomed beard, he was likely Viscount Baltar. Like the soldier, he greeted us with an overly polite, fake smile.
“A pleasure to meet you. Thank you for making time, Your Excellency,” Alicia said.
“No, no, it’s a lord’s duty to assist at Her Highness’s command,” he replied.
Recalling the town’s state, I thought to myself that he’s probably the type to grovel to superiors and scorn those beneath him.
“And I can guess your purpose.”
He wasn’t wrong—few incidents in this backwater would reach royal ears.
“Really?” Alicia asked.
“Yes, the Holy Mother Church, correct?”
“Exactly.”
“I’ve long been troubled by it. To think such a shameful doctrine would spread!”
Indeed, it’d be humiliating for a lord if all his subjects acted like that.
“Regrettably, I don’t know when that doctrine took root here. Before I knew it, the church and many residents were tainted by their teachings.”
It’s your poor governance, I thought but held my tongue.
“I heard you imprisoned someone named Misha, a member of their group,” Alicia said.
“Yes. Hmm… In that case, summoning Misha would expedite matters.”
“Please do!” Alicia exclaimed.
Things were moving surprisingly smoothly.
We’d nearly been turned away at the gate, but royal involvement changed everything.
“Hey, bring Misha,” Baltar ordered.
“Yes, sir!” A soldier hurried out.
I’d assumed Misha was in a dungeon, but when the soldier returned with her, something was off.
She was a young woman in her early twenties, a striking beauty with light brown hair in twin tails and sharp features, but she was dressed in a maid outfit. Unlike the elegant maid from earlier, her outfit was revealing, with a low neckline and short skirt—something you’d see in the scandalous books I’d bought, not on a noble’s staff. Her ample chest and hips strained against the fabric, undeniably provocative.
But Baltar barked at her. “Tch, you’re late!”
Given the mansion’s size, it seemed reasonable it’d take this long. Misha, apparently agreeing, scowled. “Hah!? You ordered me to tend the garden, so of course it’d take—”
Before she could finish, Baltar flipped her short skirt and struck her backside without hesitation.
CRACK!!
“Higu!?” Her pained cry echoed, her body trembling, briefly revealing her undergarments.
Baltar glared intimidatingly. Misha glared back defiantly for a moment but soon spoke in a quivering voice. “I-I’m sorry for talking back…!”
“Honestly, a sinner like you should be grateful I’m using you like this.”
Baltar’s tone wasn’t angry but carried a sadistic smirk, as if he relished humiliating her.
Even if she was part of a cult, this was in poor taste. The soldier who brought her seemed unfazed, suggesting this was routine.
I sighed inwardly.
Before, I’d have just been disgusted by this display. But now, I was more worried about Alicia beside me.
“Haa, haa…♡” As feared, Alicia’s breathing grew heavy, her eyes gleaming as she watched. Was she empathizing with Misha? This was bad—if her perverse switch flipped, things would get messier.
I quickly covered her eyes.
“Eek!? What are you doing!?”
“Don’t look.”
“W-Wait, is this blindfold play…?”
“No, it’s not that!”
Thankfully or not, my irritation with Alicia overpowered my disgust at the scene.
Oblivious to our exchange, Baltar spanked Misha again. It was uncomfortable to watch silently, even for information. After several strikes, he finally stopped, satisfied, and turned to us.
“…Oh, right. These adventurers want to hear about your misdeeds, so spill it.”
“Y-Yes.”
I uncovered Alicia’s eyes as the spanking ceased.
Misha, likely strong-willed originally, seemed broken by the punishment, speaking with a humiliated expression.
“Um, I was an acolyte at the town’s church. Back then, I was involved in corrupt practices like selling indulgences with Sister Alfina, to my shame…”
“Disgraceful for a cleric,” Baltar sneered.
Misha glared at him. “As if you weren’t involved…”
But as she spoke, Baltar raised his hand.
CRACK!!
“Eek, I’m sorry!” Her expression shifted instantly.
I hurriedly covered Alicia’s eyes again as her breathing quickened. Damn, what a terrible influence this viscount is on a princess’s education. His hypocrisy—ignoring his own past corruption—irked me more than his actions.
“Ahem. One day, Alfina approached me. Indulgences were becoming a kingdom-wide issue, likely to be cracked down on soon. She said a new faith would be more profitable.”
“Profitable?” I asked.
I’d assumed Misha was a believer, but apparently not.
“Yes. She said spreading the Holy Mother Church and collecting ‘donations for spreading true faith’ would be better. I hesitated, but since many sisters were questioning our old ways, I joined the Holy Mother Church.”
Ugh, Baltar’s scumminess stood out, but Misha’s no saint either…
My sympathy for her plummeted.
“Hmph, truly vile,” Baltar scoffed.
He’s just as bad, though…
Misha glared but, having learned her lesson, continued. “That’s when Alfina found Lestia. She was unmistakably beautiful, with charismatic speech and demeanor, genuinely wanting to help people. So we devised the Holy Mother’s Embrace Ceremony as a plausible ritual.”
So the Holy Mother’s Embrace Ceremony was, bluntly, a scam?
But that sister at the church seemed devoted…
“It was wildly profitable at first. We used the persuasion skills honed selling indulgences to preach the new doctrine, showed the Embrace Ceremony, and hinted that spreading the persecuted faith required funds. Donors got vague words from Lestia. Unlike indulgences, our targets were mostly poor, so it was tough initially, but it gained traction.”
Her story was awful, but I endured for information.
How did this money-making scheme turn into that?
“But as profits grew, things got weird. One day, I was suddenly excommunicated, stripped of all my earnings, and banished. When I got home, soldiers were waiting.”
“Oh, a tip reached the guards, it seems. How foolish to join a cult for profit only to get caught and exiled,” Baltar said gleefully.
It’s all happening in your domain, though. This isn’t the time for smugness.
Misha bit her lip in frustration. “Tch…”
“More importantly, what do you mean things got weird?” I asked, ignoring the rest to focus on the investigation.
“It started after a few ceremonies. I began feeling real magic from Lestia during them. Afterward, people looked entranced, and male believers started saying creepy things while clinging to us. Ugh, it makes me nauseous thinking about it.”
I recalled the church scene—multiple people like that would drive anyone insane.
“Even those who knew the ceremony was staged seemed genuinely moved. After Alfina received the Embrace Ceremony, she turned from greed to true faith. I felt increasingly out of place. If I hadn’t been blinded by money and fled earlier…”
“So, you started the ceremonies as a scam, but Lestia gained real magical power?”
“Yes.”
Misha nodded.
Truth from lies, they say, but a cult leader born from a scam?
“I see. But the sister at the church thought Misha was a fellow believer who got captured.”
“Oh, if Alfina exposed Misha’s crimes, it’d reveal the scam’s origins. That’d make believers worry they’re being deceived. So they framed Misha as a devout follower caught by me,” Baltar explained.
Misha looked bitter but didn’t deny it.
“Well, she’s hopeless, but her body’s useful, so I keep her like this. Gufu! Ask her anything, even unrelated to the investigation.”
Baltar touched Misha’s waist lewdly.
She looked disgusted but, worn down by punishment, didn’t resist.
Feeling grim, I forced myself to focus on the investigation. Baltar’s a creep, Alicia’s half-lost in fantasy, so I have to stay sharp!
I’m only investigating because of Alicia, so why am I the one working so hard? Still, with real harm occurring, I couldn’t ignore it.
“The sister we met seemed fully devoted to the Holy Mother Church. Is the Holy Mother’s Embrace Ceremony that powerful?”
“I only saw it from afar, but I felt immense magic from her. Men who received the ‘embrace’ suddenly called her ‘Mama,’ crying like children…” Misha said distastefully.
Could ordinary magic be mistaken for divine power? But then, the pervert next to me wields ‘Holy Power’, so it’s not impossible.
“Where is Lestia now?” I asked, directing the question more to Baltar.
The Holy Mother Church’s followers, whether brainwashed or well-intentioned, are driven by Lestia’s words or ceremonies. To resolve this, we must find her, expose her prophecies as false, or stop her cult-like actions.
Baltar’s expression turned slightly serious. “I’ve had it investigated, but she’s elusive. When Misha was involved, she held ceremonies in the church’s basement, but she’s stopped appearing there.”
“I see…”
If her location were known, she’d likely be caught already, and she’s probably prioritizing hiding.
“I suspect she’s near the town, but not living in some random house. I think she’s in Ogris Forest, next to the town.”
“Ogris Forest?”
“Yes. It’s full of animal and plant monsters, and even hunters avoid its depths. A self-proclaimed prophet likely has some magic, so she could be hiding there.”
“Any other suspicious places?”
“None. I’ve had most of the town’s shady spots searched.”
I wasn’t sure how much to trust Baltar’s investigation skills, but he seemed serious about capturing Lestia. The sister at the church also implied she wasn’t easily accessible. The forest might be a lead.
“…What do you think, Alicia?”
I asked Alicia, who was staring dreamily at Misha.
“Yes, the master-and-maid dynamic is quite…” she murmured.
“Not that—the case!” I snapped.
What is she even saying?
Startled, Alicia switched to a serious expression. “Yes! I also think it’s unlikely she’s in town. Someone with that much magic performing ceremonies could be detected by those sensitive to mana. How dangerous is the forest?”
“Well, the biggest threat is grizzlies. Other aggressive animals roam there, too. There are weaker but venomous insects and predatory plants always waiting to ambush. Sending a large group of soldiers would increase losses, so I was planning to hire agile adventurers. Sorry for the vagueness.”
“No, thank you for the useful information,” Alicia said, bowing politely despite her earlier inappropriate musings.
“Anything else you want to ask?”
“No, thank you,” I said.
Eager to leave, we exited the room.
We’d gathered potential leads, but Baltar and Misha’s equal scummery left me exhausted. Damn, the Holy Mother Church is the target, but isn’t there a way to deal with that vile viscount?
Lost in thought, I suddenly felt the urge to use the restroom after the long conversation.
“Excuse me,” I said to a butler. “Could you show me to the restroom?”
The noble’s mansion even had a lavish toilet, I noted as I returned. Alicia was receiving a bag from a maid—not Misha, but a proper one. A souvenir, perhaps?
Curious but dismissing it, we were courteously seen off at the entrance and left the mansion.
“Phew, I’m wiped…” I sighed outside. The Holy Mother Church, Baltar, Misha—all were messed up in different ways.
It was late, the sky already dark. Alicia nodded. “Indeed, quite the character.”
Half my exhaustion was because of you, though.
“Can’t you do something about him with your authority?”
“That’s tricky. Exposing the truth of this case and highlighting his failures as a lord would be the best approach.”
“So, we just have to work hard to find Lestia?”
Thinking of taking down that jerk viscount fueled my motivation.
“By the way, what did you get earlier?”
“Oh, that’s a secret. You’ll find out soon,” Alicia said mysteriously.
“Hmm?”
Assuming it was trivial, I gazed at Ogris Forest in the distance. In the night’s darkness, it looked eerie.
“But rushing into such a dangerous forest needs some thought.”
“True. Even if Lestia-san is there, we’d at least want to know which direction to search,” Alicia said, her face serious. Her shift between earnestness and frivolity is jarring.
“I’d like to dig into that, but who should we ask…”
“It’s late. Let’s return to the inn for now. Resting might spark some ideas,” Alicia suggested.
“Fair enough.”
We headed back to the inn.
After a quick dinner, we retired to our rooms. Exhausted, sleepiness hit me hard.
As I was about to crawl into bed, there was a knock.
“Excuse me, may I come in?”
“Alicia?”
What could she want at this hour?
Curious but seeing no reason to refuse, I said, “Come in.”
In hindsight, given past events, I should’ve anticipated what was coming. Too tired to think, I’d regret letting her in more than anything.
“Here I come…” Alicia’s voice was oddly nervous as the door creaked open.
“Alicia, what’s—gah!?”
Seeing her, I froze, realizing my mistake.
There stood Alicia, dressed in the same scandalous maid outfit Misha wore at the viscount’s mansion—the kind you’d only see in shady establishments.
A maid’s headdress adorned her silver hair. The low-cut top emphasized her surprisingly ample chest, usually hidden, and the miniskirt highlighted her shapely thighs. The frills and lace, combined with her inherent cuteness, somehow made the outfit look like a charming dress.
As a beauty, she pulled off the embarrassing costume flawlessly, but it was dangerously alluring.
So that’s what she got from the maid. Preparing to indulge her fetish while we gathered serious intel—words failed me.
Alicia approached with a smile. “You seemed tired today, Master, so your maid is here to soothe you.”
“I don’t know what you’re planning, but I really don’t need this…”
“No, no, please don’t hold back. I want to serve you to make up for all the trouble I cause.”
Even knowing she’s scheming, a gorgeous girl like Alicia in a maid cosplay saying that made my heart skip. But why? If she loves being tormented, maybe she enjoys serving too…
“Actually, I’m really grateful to you, Magnus-san,” Alicia said in a slightly serious tone, catching me off guard.
“Huh?”
“Back then, I was about to be forced into an unwanted engagement as a princess.”
“Back then” must mean when she barged into my life. It’s a world far above my own, but for royalty and nobles, marriage partners are often decided for them, sometimes even from birth. Alicia was likely set to be engaged to someone convenient for the Holy Kingdom of Rosenberg.
I’d wondered why she was so pushy back then, but now it made sense.
“At first, I went to escape reality, but as we talked, I couldn’t help wanting to be ‘punished’ just once. After an engagement, it wouldn’t be proper to do such things with anyone but my betrothed.”
So she has some sense of propriety there.
“Why didn’t you tell me?” I asked.
“Because I thought you’d be even more likely to kick me out if I did.”
If I’d taken her on as a disciple in that situation, her fiancé would’ve made me a target.
…Wait, isn’t that still the case?
If I were her betrothed, hearing that my fiancée was traveling alone with a disgraced alchemist spreading scandalous rumors, I’d be furious. And now, compromising situations were piling up. A sinking feeling grew as I realized the implications.
“W-Who was the guy, by the way?” I asked, hesitating.
Probably someone high-ranking, given her status as a princess.
“The son of the Archbishop,” she replied.
In short, the son of the most powerful figure in the Artemisia Church, likely the next in line for that role.
“Ugh…” I groaned.
Yeah, a royal engagement would involve someone of that caliber.
The thought of making an enemy of such a figure made me shudder.
“Was he that bad?” I asked, regretting it immediately. Political marriages aren’t pleasant regardless of the partner.
But Alicia nodded emphatically, surprising me since she rarely speaks ill of others.
“Yes. When we met, he said, ‘This is a political marriage, so let’s avoid overly restricting each other. You can use a wing of the mansion as you like and spend your time freely outside official duties.’”
“Sounds ideal for a political marriage,” I remarked.
But Alicia pouted, clearly dissatisfied. “Not at all! I wanted to be strictly controlled, and I wished he’d at least say something like, ‘If you meet another man behind my back, you’ll be punished!’”
“I should’ve dragged you back to the palace by force,” I muttered.
Still, imagining Alicia as someone else’s wife stirred an unpleasant feeling. Would she demand “punishment” from him too? Would she wear such provocative outfits for him? The thought inexplicably irritated me.
Damn it, why am I even thinking about this? It’s none of my business.
“That’s harsh!” Alicia protested. “…But I really am grateful, you know?”
She stepped closer and started massaging my shoulders. Despite her talk of control, the political marriage clearly bothered her. Her small, delicate hands didn’t provide much relief, but her earnestness came through.
The fact that a princess like Alicia was doing this, combined with a beautiful girl in such a risqué outfit massaging me, made my heart race.
“If there’s anything else you want, just command me,” she said.
“Nah, I’m good…”
“I’m your maid now, so I have to absolutely obey my master’s orders,” she whispered in my ear, her voice full of expectation.
The word “absolutely” sent a shiver through me.
“Come on, give me an order,” she urged, continuing to massage my shoulders and whispering close.
She’s probably hoping for a forceful or humiliating command. So that’s her game—tempting me to give her those kinds of orders.
Sure, when a gorgeous girl in such a lewd costume throws herself at me, I’m not immune to impure thoughts.
But I told myself my biggest wish was to sleep, given how tired I was.
“Then let me sleep,” I said.
“No way,” she replied, instantly rejecting my request despite claiming to obey absolutely. Her core personality doesn’t change, no matter the outfit.
Resigned, she kept massaging my shoulders.
But as a young girl, even a magically gifted princess, her strength was lacking. Instead of relaxing, I grew tenser.
“How’s it feel?” she asked.
“It’s a bit weak…”
“S-Sorry!” she apologized, genuinely contrite for once. Her grip strength was limited, though.
To satisfy her and move on, I decided to make a safe request.
“Fine. Brew me some tea.”
“Y-Yes!”
If I acted satisfied with the tea, maybe she’d leave content.
Plus, after the commotion, I was genuinely thirsty, even if it was bedtime.
Alicia used magic to heat water and brewed tea with a set from her luggage. She handled it deftly, suggesting she’d done this even at the palace.
But then—
“Here’s your tea… Oh, eek!” she cried in an exaggeratedly stilted tone, stumbling toward me.
Caught off guard, I froze as the tea in her cup spilled onto me.
“Gah!”
Splash!
The tea soaked my clothes.
Alicia fell to the floor, looking up at me with a theatrical apology. “Ouch… Oh no, what have I done to my master!”
Her intent was painfully obvious.
So it’s come to this, as expected.
“…”
Her apology sounded blatantly insincere.
How much of a pervert is she to go this far for punishment?
Bowing deeply, she said, “I’m so sorry, Master!”
“…”
Her gratitude and sense of obligation earlier now felt like lies, fueling my irritation.
“Now, please punish this clumsy maid!” she urged, her cheeks faintly flushed, gazing up at me with expectant eyes.
Must be because she developed a twisted fascination with maids at the viscount’s mansion.
“Damn it, picking up bad ideas at the viscount’s…” I muttered.
“True, the viscount is problematic as a lord—and as a person—but as a master, he’s worth emulating. I’m your maid now, so you can treat me like property,” she said.
Her words brought back the mansion scene.
Does she really want to be punished like that by someone like him? The thought sparked anger.
She even mentioned wanting her fiancé to punish her earlier…
The tea spill was one thing, but now I was genuinely irritated.
“You think the viscount’s worth emulating? Don’t tell me you’re fantasizing about him punishing you!” I snapped.
“N-No, that’s not…” she stammered, her voice betraying a hint of unease. Did she actually admire him even a little? That thought infuriated me further.
“Fine, if you want punishment so badly, I’ll give it to you!”
“Y-Yes!”
I shouted, and Alicia quickly placed her hands on the floor.
Ugh…
The maid outfit, likely designed by the viscount to humiliate Misha, had a plunging neckline. If I moved in front of her, I’d see her deep cleavage. Worse, the skirt was so short that her posture caused it to flip, revealing her underwear over her plump backside.
But the idea that Alicia, in such a provocative pose, could’ve been “punished” by another man if things went differently fueled my anger.
“Even with the fiancé talk and the bandits, you’d take punishment from anyone, wouldn’t you?” I accused.
“N-No, that’s not true!” she protested, her tone carrying genuine urgency, perhaps sensing my different demeanor.
I grabbed the ‘Blessed’ whip from before, ready to spank her.
“The only one I want to be punished by is you, Master…” she began.
“Then why were you so excited at the viscount’s?” I interrupted, swinging the whip.
CRACK!!
“Ow!! Aaaahhh♡♡♡”
A sharp sound rang out, followed by a mix of a scream and a sultry moan. Unlike the plain cloth whip before, this one, enhanced by Alicia’s power, left her expression a blend of pain and pleasure.
For a moment, I worried I’d gone too far.
Normally, I’d have stopped, snapping out of it.
But the image of the viscount touching Alicia in that maid outfit flashed in my mind, and before I knew it, I raised the whip again.
“You were imagining the viscount punishing you and getting excited, weren’t you?” I growled.
CRACK!!!!
“Higuuuu♡♡”
A louder sound echoed, and Alicia let out a pained cry.
My anger had made the strike harder than before.
“N-No, that’s not it! Please believe me, it wasn’t like that…” she pleaded, her voice carrying a desperate sincerity, unlike her usual indulgence in pleasure. Was the ‘Blessed’ whip’s pain overwhelming even her?
But for some reason, her plea only irritated me more. I swung the whip before she could finish.
CRACK!!
“♡♡ I-I’m sorry♡ Um, t-that was♡ Not like that♡ It wasn’t that♡” she stammered.
“What’s not like that?” I asked in a low, almost scolding tone, like a true master reprimanding a maid.
“I was excited because♡ I was imagining you doing to me what the viscount did to Misha♡♡” she explained, struggling through pain and pleasure.
Fantasizing about that during a critical investigation was awful, but oddly, her words brought me relief.
Yet, relief gave way to another question.
“Then what about saying you wanted your fiancé to punish you?” I pressed.
“T-That was…♡”
If she hadn’t come to me, she might’ve been gleefully punished like this by some stranger.
CRACK!!
“Aaahhh♡♡♡ I’m sorry♡ I mean♡ T-That was before you punished me, Master…”
“So you did fantasize about your fiancé doing this?” I concluded.
Alicia’s extreme perverseness was something I’d long accepted.
It was natural—inevitable, even—that she’d have such fantasies about other men before meeting me. It shouldn’t concern me.
Yet, it infuriated me.
“I’m sorry♡ Even as your maid♡ I imagined being someone else’s for a moment♡♡” she apologized, her face flushed, wearing that shameless maid outfit, utterly exposed.
Her provocative state only amplified my irritation.
“So you did want other men to punish you, you perverted, lying maid!” I shouted.
CRACK!!!!
“Aaaahhh♡♡ Yes♡♡ I’m a pervert who fantasizes about being punished by anyone if given the chance♡♡ Please discipline this masochist maid so I belong only to you, Master♡♡”
Alicia pleaded desperately.
Such a beautiful voice uttering such depraved, slave-like words.
Her words stirred an inexplicable excitement in me, my grip tightening.
“That’s right, a perverted maid like you needs harsher discipline!” I declared.
“No way♡ That already felt so good… I mean, hurt so much♡ If it’s even stronger, I…♡♡”
Her words weren’t her usual ploy for more pleasure but carried genuine fear of being overwhelmed.
Seeing that, I swung the whip with full force.
CRACK!!!!
“♡♡ If you hit that hard♡ I♡ I’m gonna♡ I’m gonna…♡♡”
Suddenly, a silvery holy mana erupted from her body.
“Huh?”
The sight snapped me out of punishment mode. Damn, I’d gotten uncharacteristically angry… Right, this play was partly to trigger her ‘Holy Power’. What got ‘Blessed’ this time?
The light enveloped Alicia’s entire body. The perverse play faded, and wrapped in pure light, her natural beauty made her look almost angelic.
But then I noticed—the light wasn’t around her body but her maid outfit, sparkling brightly.
As the light faded, only Alicia remained, still in the shameless but now dazzling maid outfit.
“T-This is…”
“Haa, haa… Looks like I ‘Blessed’ the maid outfit this time…” she said, dazed, clearly not expecting it.
“You can do that?” I asked.
“I’m not sure, but it’s probably like ‘Blessing’ armor,” she replied.
Is that possible? But it happened, so I couldn’t argue.
“But why does it always Bless useless stuff like whips and maid outfits?” I grumbled.
“It’s just a guess, but… this power seems tied to my emotions. Maybe it ‘Blesses’ whatever I’m most intensely focused on when it activates?”
So, the whip was ‘Blessed’ when she was whipped, and now the maid outfit during this maid punishment play. It made sense, but since it only activates when she’s whipped, it’s just a perverted power. Damn, her perverseness turned ‘Blessing’ into this…
“Can’t you focus on something else to activate it?” I asked, just to be sure.
“No way. It triggers when I’m completely immersed in your punishment, thinking of nothing else…” she said, blushing shyly.
“…”
Now I’m embarrassed too.
As I fell silent, Alicia, still flushed, continued. “Also, I’m sorry. I asked you to do this but fantasized about others. I’ll be more careful.”
“!?”
I was irritated about that, but her direct apology threw me off. It’s like I’m some jealous boyfriend, when I’m just an adventurer helping with her investigation.
But since I was jealous, I couldn’t retort.
W-Well, she’s gorgeous, despite her quirks. Her behavior would naturally rile me up. Plus, it’s better I handle her than some creep exploiting her fetish and causing trouble. It’s just logical for me to keep her in check, I convinced myself.
“And this time, it wasn’t just because I asked or for the ‘Holy Power’—you disciplined me from the heart, right?” she asked, her tone tinged with bashfulness.
“!?”
Her unusual shyness made my heart skip. Normally, I’d deny it instantly, but the words wouldn’t come.
“S-So, it felt different this time… N-No, never mind! Anyway, sorry for keeping you up late!”
With a quick bow, Alicia hurried out of the room.
Alone, I sighed heavily and collapsed onto the bed.
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